Explore Guatemala

Surrounded by one of the most inspiring settings… an artists dream… the many layered textures and colors will weave their way into your art. From the ruins of the early Maya civilization to the small villages where the indigenous population lives, speaks, dresses and practices its religion as it did hundreds of years ago, the people and the culture will weave its way into your heart. The markets, the feel of Spanish Colonial and the colorful countryside all make you want to return again and again.

We stay at the most unique, luxurious hotels in Guatemala and dine on the finest cuisine (including the “typical” Guatemalan fare). Travel the county in first class motor coaches with the best drivers and guides (all connected by cell phone and radios). Comfortable seats, lots of room and viewing windows are the order of the day.

Lake Atitlán
Travel through the Guatemalan Highlands with its great mountain peaks, plateaus and valleys. Simply arriving at Lake Atitlán is a 20-minute experience. We begin our decent of some 2000 feet with the lake in view. The three volcanoes that surround Lake Atitlán stand out like majestic guards over what Aldous Huxley called the “most beautiful lake in the world”. Arrival at Hotel Atitlán is magic (www.hotelatitlan.com). From the moment you walk into the lobby and see the indigenous artwork and colonial antiques you will feel the ambiance of the hotel and what is yet to come. Your room will have a spectacular view of the lake and the volcanoes. Once you check in you will never want to leave. The New York Times said, "There is only one truly sumptuous place to stay, the Hotel Atitlán, a fantasia of ornately maintained gardens, caged parrots, hand-carved furniture and gorgeous tile work. In many countries, the Hotel Atitlán might cost $300 -$400 per night".

Hotel Atitlán is “home” for the Explore Guatemala Creative Workshops. With workshop facilities, “the Ranchito”, nestled in the lower gardens, on the waters edge with magnificent views of the volcanoes, lake and Indian villages it is absolutely awe inspiring. Boats will transport you to the Indian villages, surrounding the lake, where you will find a variety of markets, local artisans and interesting venues for your art or sightseeing.

Finca Los Tarrales
A natural private reserve climbing the backside of Volcano Atitlan, Los Tarrales is many thousands of acres of virgin forest. It is a working farm that produces coffee and tropical ornamental plants, which are harvested, packaged and shipped off to Guatemalan and European markets. Over two hundred Maya live, go to primary school, attend one of three churches and eventually, are buried on the Finca (www.tarrales.com).

Antigua
No other town has the appeal and charm of the world renowned Spanish Colonial Antigua, Guatemala. From its colonial architecture to its beautiful surroundings, this town is considered one of the most beautiful in Central America. It is like stepping back into time over 300 years. Founded in 1543, Antigua was one the third most important Spanish colonies in the Americas, ruling over what are now Southern Mexico and all of Central America. More than 30 Monastic orders called Antigua home and built stunning monasteries, convents and cathedrals in the town. The local markets, quiet courtyards with ornate gardens and the sights and sounds of colonial Spain permeate the atmosphere. Arriving at Hotel Casa Santo Domingo (www.casasantodomingo.com.gt), prepare to lose your breath and your heart to the most romantic, most transporting, most unexpected, most Antiguan of the hotels in the "old capital". It is a colonial monument intact, a fifteenth-century monastery re-invigorated as a premier luxury hotel.

Chichicastenango
We take the scenic mountain road to Chichicastenango. It is a blend of Spanish colonial and Mayan Indian it is known for its world famous. market, where thousands gather every Sunday as the native Mayans bring an amazing variety of native handicrafts, produce and livestock. View the Santo Tomas Church, built over a prehistoric archeological site, where pagan ceremonies are still performed on the steps while Catholic services go on inside.

Tikal, A Timeless Adventure…
Let the raucous calls of the macaw and howler monkey transport you back to a time of kings and many gods. Discover a lost world once inhabited by the ancient Maya more than two thousand years ago, a world that has slumbered remarkably intact under a mantle of thick vegetation for nine centuries. Tikal, whose temples push through the tree canopy, is wrapped in a mystical shroud, where battles and burials are recorded in intricately carved stone; where jade carvings resemble the filigree work of fine jewelry and the ceramics and textiles capture the color of the lush vegetation around them. The Maya created one of the most refined civilizations in the history of the world and Tikal is the legacy to this civilization, now declared by UNESCO as a Natural and Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A Tour of Tikal.